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Queensland releases more land for gas exploration

2nd November 2018

By: Esmarie Iannucci

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Australasia

     

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PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government has released more than 6 600 km2 of unexplored land for gas exploration, with more than 900 km2 of the acreage set aside to supply the Australian market only.

Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham has extended an invitationt to companies to bid for the right to explore for gas south-west of Chinchilla in the Bowen and Surat basins.

“A secure domestic gas supply is on everyone’s lips right now, and Queensland continues to do the heavy lifting, releasing more land for exploration and putting the right policy levers in place to encourage investment,” Lynham said.

“The provisions the government has placed on 917 km2 of this land will help with gas security for Australian manufacturers and fuel Australian jobs.

“As well as maintaining gas security in our own back yard, the remaining land for exploration will strengthen Queensland’s ability to deliver on lucrative, long-term export contracts worth A$11.4-billion to the local economy this year alone.”

Lynham said the Bowen and Surat basins were key gas-producing regions already supported by extensive pipeline and transport infrastructure.

“Put simply; the land we are opening up is perfectly placed for companies wanting to hit the ground running,” he said.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (Appea) has welcomed the land release, saying it confirmed Queensland’s critical contribution to maintaining secure, competitive gas supply on the east coast.

“The Queensland government deserves to be congratulated for its rolling release of new acreage which underpins domestic gas supply and the state’s strong, growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry,” Appea CEO Dr Malcolm Roberts said.

“The latest release means opportunities for more investment in regional Queensland, leading to new, well-paid jobs, more state royalties and more regional infrastructure.

“The gas industry already supports over 4 000 direct jobs in Queensland with another 23 000 indirect jobs. The industry purchases about A$3-billion a year from local suppliers.  The industry supply chain includes almost 3 500 businesses across the state.

“The news from Queensland only highlights the lost opportunities in Victoria and New South Wales; states which are more and more dependent on interstate gas supplies,” Roberts said.

“As the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission regularly warns, the southern states will continue to suffer higher gas prices until they follow the example of states such as Queensland in developing their own, local resources.”

The Queensland Resources Council also welcomed the state government’s announcement, with CEO Ian Macfarlane noting that opening up land for exploration was a commitment of confidence in the gas industry and another sign Queensland was getting on with the job to help ease the east coast gas squeeze.

“More gas being produced is good news for all gas customers, both domestic and export. With a go-slow on gas development in New South Wales, and a blanket ban on some types of gas projects in Victoria, what the Southern States are really saying is they’re not prepared to support local jobs and local industry,” Macfarlane said.

This is the fourth release of land for gas for the Australian market, a first for Australia Lynham announced the first 58 km2 release in February 2017.

Since then, almost another 18 000 km2 has been released for gas exploration, more than a third of it of it for the domestic market only.

Armour Energy is exploring for gas on 318 km2 of the Roma Shelf north of Miles and Surat and Central Petroleum has locked in a deal to supply gas from its site near Miles to one of Queensland’s largest manufacturers, Incitec Pivot.

Earlier this week, Senex announced go-ahead for its Project Atlas in the Surat Basin on the first land the Queensland Government awarded for domestic-only gas production in March 2018.

Edited by Mariaan Webb
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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